I’m glad I’m getting this chocolate covered cherry latte recipe in before the end of February. I shared the syrup recipe last week on Instagram in a sponsored post with De’Longhi, but it’s so good that I felt like it deserved its own spot here on the blog.
Homemade Seasonal Coffee Syrups
First, let me get on my soapbox for a minute. If you love a store bought Torani syrup or a store bought flavored creamer, no judgement. Okay, actually, there’s a little judgement. I know they say they have natural flavors, but, to me, nothing about them tastes natural. And, y’all, I hope those coffee recipe videos that pop up occasionally are on my Instagram algorithm are fake, because when I watch people add five or six pumps of syrup, followed up by whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel to their morning coffee, all before shaking it around in some sort of ASMR ice action, I am judging. I become the equivalent of a black coffee drinker looking at me with my lattes.
But I do love a flavored latte! And creating homemade seasonal coffee syrups is one of my favorite rituals. Every couple of weeks, I’ll come up with something new that feels perfect for the time of year. Peppermint mocha is a favorite of mine during the holidays. Cardamom is a fall go-to. Lavender, of course, during the late spring, and I always love a floral rose syrup.
For Valentine’s Day, I wanted something that felt seasonal, and the nostalgic chocolate covered cherries came to mind (you could also do a chocolate covered strawberry syrup by subbing strawberries for cherries).
If you do prefer to buy pre-made coffee syrups, the two brands that I do think are worth buying are Daysie and J.T. Cooper. Both of these are smaller, independent brands, and I can vouch that they’re delicious!
Chocolate Covered Cherry Latte Syrup
1/2 cup frozen cherries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
Place ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. Let simmer for five minutes or so, stirring frequently. Let the mixture cool. Drain out the cherries. Enjoy! Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
How to Make a Chocolate Covered Cherry Latte
To make this chocolate covered cherry latte, which is iced, I made two shots of espresso cool using the De’Longhi La Specialista. I mixed three teaspoons of the syrup with milk (I fill up the cup about 1/3 of the way with milk), frothed it using a hand frother, and added ice. Then I dumped in the espresso shots, give it a slight stir with a straw, and voilà. A sweet treat.
